Biological technician

Duties

• Prepare & test samples Biological technicians handle real biological materials like blood and soil, preparing and testing them using standardized lab methods. They need to know how to keep samples uncontaminated, run assays correctly, and check results against known benchmarks.
• Equipment operation & care Work with powerful instruments every day including microscopes, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, and more. Know how to set up, calibrate, and care for equipment so it gives accurate results and stays in working order.
• Monitor experiments Observe experiments in progress and record every step and result because science only works when it's tracked. Strong documentation skills and data management practices ensure records are accurate and reproducible by others.
• Analyze and report data Once the experiment is done, technicians analyze the data by reading graphs, spotting patterns, and drawing conclusions. Statistics, data visualization, and clear scientific communication are the tools that turn raw data into insight.
• Support lab research Technicians are the backbone of scientific discovery, they collect samples, run protocols, and support the broader research team. They need to know the scientific method, how to follow and adapt protocols, and the ethical standards that guide responsible research.

Education

Minimum qualification: Associate degree

Most common program: Biology

Biological technician - Biology

A mindmap-style diagram shows both typical and alternative pathways to enter into this role. It maps out different education and career steps, with routes that intersect. Select each step in the diagram to learn more.

Salary

• Entry level: 40000
• Mid level: 50000
• Senior level: 60000

Job outlook

Job openings: 10300

Demand: Rapid growth

• Biotechnological breakthroughs in gene editing and personalized medicine are driving the growth. (The global biotechnology market will reach $727.1B by 2025, growing 7.4% annually, boosting hiring.)
• Climate change and pollution are increasing the need to monitor ecosystems and develop sustainable solutions. (The global environmental monitoring market will reach $13.1B by 2029, growing 4.7% annually.)
• Pharmaceutical companies rely more on skilled professionals for drug development and testing. (The biotechnology drug market will grow 13.96% annually, reaching $3.88T by 2025, boosting demand.)

Quote

I discover and analyze protein shapes to make better medicines.

Dr. Claire Metrick, Senior scientist

Read Claire's story

Starting her career in the pharmaceutical industry as a technician, Claire now works as a structural biologist to support drug discovery. After earning her PhD, she crystallized and solved the first structure of human PLD1, a protein that plays a crucial role in several cellular processes like signal transduction and membrane trafficking. This work allowed for the discovery of inhibitor binding mechanisms, critical to pharmacological research and discovery.

Learn more

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Sources

. Aslam, S. (2024, January 14). Biotech industry: Market size, jobs, and trends in 2024. Omnicore Agency. , Glassdoor. (2024, June 6). Biological technician salary. , Grand View Research. (2023, August). Global biotechnology market size, share & trends analysis report. , Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (n.d.). Massachusetts career connected learning framework (MCCLF). , Northern Essex Community College. (2024). Biology, Associate in Science pathway. , O*NET OnLine. (2024, November 19). Biological technicians: Summary report for 19-4021.00. , University of Massachusetts Amherst. (2024). Major requirements: Undergraduate program. , YouTube. (2021, March 24). Stories of women in STEM [Video].